Ip telecommunication system, method for controlling communication in ip network, client terminal and client server

ABSTRACT

A network communication system when a call is issued from one of said input/output terminal and said communication terminal, said call control means provided on the side of said server establishes the call connection between said input/output terminal and said communication terminal; and when the call connection between said input/output terminal and said communication terminal is established based upon the call control means on the side of said server, a communication of any one, or both said audio and video information can be performed via said network between said input/output terminal and said communication terminal.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/352,235, filed Feb.13, 2006. This application relates to and claims priority from JapanesePatent Application Nos. 2005-035409, filed on Feb. 14, 2005 and2006-015767, filed on Jan. 25, 2006. The entirety of the contents andsubject matter of all of the above is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an IP telecommunication system, amethod for controlling communication in an IP network, a client terminaland a client server, and more particularly, relates to a system whereina client terminal applied to a thin client system may be used as, forexample, an IP phone or a TV phone, and a telecommunication terminal, atelecommunication method and the like.

In recent years, due to the trend of price reduction in personalcomputers (PCs) and network devices, companies that promote streamliningof their operations by distributing terminals such as PCs to most oftheir employees have become a majority. As PC prices become lower and PCusage grows, the amount of maintenance work to be performed byintra-firm device administrators increases in proportion to the numberof PCs. Examples of such maintenance work include version upgrading andbugfixing of operating systems (OSs) and business applications,responding to hardware-related failures, taking measures andcountermeasures against computer viruses and the like. Performing suchmaintenance work requires significant management costs that willincrease dramatically as the numbers of employees increase.

A method of system operation called the server-client method is employedas an approach for reducing such management costs. This method involvesaccumulating primary programs and data at a server side for collectivemanagement, and accessing the programs and data through remote controlfrom the PC terminals of individuals. Terminals under the server-clientmethod are ordinary PC terminals implemented with remote controlprograms. However, a PC terminal using this method is not required toaccumulate application programs or data other than the remote controlprogram. This allows thin client (hereinafter referred to as TC)terminals that are not equipped with storage devices such as hard diskdevices to be used as terminals under the server-client method. In lightof the recent enforcement of the personal information protection law, TCterminals have been attracting attention as terminals free from personalinformation leakage, and as a result a server-client method using suchTC terminals has been gaining popularity.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a TC system employing TC terminals. The TCsystem comprises a TC server and a plurality of TC terminals. The TCserver performs processing by having processes activated by each usercommunicate with the TC terminals to which they correspond one-to-one.Since each TC terminal does not store communication data in externalstorage devices such as fixed magnetic disk devices, their primarycomponents are input/output devices and their driver/processing sections(so-called drivers), and data communication sections. Data processing ofthe main body desired by a user is performed at the TC server side.Therefore, it is no longer necessary to perform updating and the like ofapplication programs at the TC terminals. This results not only in areduction in terminal management costs, but also in prevention ofinformation leaking even in the event of loss or theft of TC terminalssince no confidential data is retained in the TC terminals.

On the other hand, in recent years, IP phones have been rapidlyspreading. For example, a basic configuration of a corporate IP phonesystem is shown in FIG. 8. In FIG. 8, a single telephony server or aplurality of telephony servers carry out the role of a so-calledinternal phone exchange device, and perform call control betweentelephone terminals. Telephone terminals include an IP phone 801 thatconnects to an IP network, or a softphone 812 that is a telephoneprogram on a PC. The softphone is a program that controls calling andreceiving operations, generally using the PC that it is running on asits own telephone terminal. In addition, by comprising an imagetransmitting/receiving function that uses a camera 813 as a part of thesoftphone's function, the softphone can also be used as a TV phoneterminal or a TV conference terminal. Communication with a fixed-linetelephone 831 may be achieved via a fixed telephone network 830 througha gateway device 820, while communication with a cellular phone 833 maybe achieved via a cellular phone network 832.

Next, fundamental operations of an IP phone will be described using anexample wherein a telephone terminal 801 dials out to a softphone 812.When dialing out from the telephone terminal 801, a telephony server 800receives this as a callout information from the telephone terminal.After confirming the telephone status and the like of the softphone 812,the telephony server notifies the telephone terminal 801 of an IPaddress 843 of the softphone, and notifies the softphone 812 of an IPaddress 842 of the telephone terminal. Then, both telephone terminalsestablish connection by mutually transmitting/receiving voice packetsbetween their IP addresses, and achieve voice communication. Imagecommunication can be achieved through a similar connection method,wherein connection is established by mutually transmitting/receivingimage packets between softphones equipped with image functions.

Several technical challenges exist when realizing IP phone functionswith a TC terminal according to the above described TC system. With a TCterminal, since application programs are executed at the TC server side,the TC terminal side cannot communicate even when a softphone that is atelephone program is executed on the TC server side. Even if thecommunication is established, the plurality of softphones virtuallyrunning on the TC server remains as a problem, preventing identificationof virtual terminals on the TC server through call control underconventional IP address exchange methods. One such call connectionmethod is provided, for example, in JP-A-2003-158534. More specifically,JP-A-2003-158534 presents a method of solving the problem wherein TCterminals cannot be identified from the outside when a plurality of TCterminals is connected to a TC server.

In the method of the above described Patent Document 1, each telephoneterminal is identified while a plurality of softphones runs on a TCserver in the TC system described above. Therefore, all communicationsbetween TC terminals and exterior IP phone terminals were communicationsvia the TC terminal, and terminal-to-terminal communication thatcharacterizes the fundamental operations of IP phones was not achieved.Furthermore, since the method required TC terminals to exist on the samenetwork segment as the TC server, communications by TC terminals via theoutside or wireless LANs were also not achieved.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The construction of a system capable of performing communication betweenTC terminals and communication terminals without going through a TCserver, and a communication control method thereof have been desired.

The present invention was made in consideration of the above problems.By providing a TC terminal side with a communication control means forallowing communication with, for example, a telephone on a network, callestablishment between a TC terminal and a communication terminal isperformed via a TC server, and communication between the TC terminal andthe communication terminal is performed via the network without havingto go through the TC server. Specific means thereof are as described inthe claims.

According to the present invention, a TC terminal may also be used as,for example, an IP phone terminal, a TV phone terminal animage-receiving terminal or the like. Therefore, there are no risks ofleaking of personal information such as address books through the use ofTC terminals, and the same TC terminal can be used to securelycommunicate voice and images according to a user's work regardless oflocation, for example even at external locations such as a business tripdestination or a user's home.

Also, since communication is possible without going through a TC server,optimization of processing bottlenecks and network traffic related toserver processing can be achieved.

In addition, since TC terminals are unable to accumulate data, voice,images and the like, copyright protection when receiving imagedistribution services can also be achieved.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will becomeapparent from the following description of the embodiments of theinvention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram for explaining a method ofimplementing a telephone function according to a personal TC (PTC)system;

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of a microphone and aspeaker connected to a PTC terminal;

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a PTC terminal configured with an IC card,according to a PTC system;

FIG. 4 is diagram showing a configuration of a PTC server side equippedwith a voice packet communication section according to a PTC system;

FIG. 5 is diagram showing a configuration of a PTC terminal equippedwith a call control section;

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a screen interface of a telephone controlsection displayed on a screen display of a PTC terminal;

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a configuration of a typical TC system;

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a system configuration of a typical IPphone;

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a configuration of a PTC system;

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a telephone number management tablemaintained by a telephony server;

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a specific example of allocated telephonenumbers and IP addresses, for explaining operations of a telephonesystem;

FIG. 12 is a sequential diagram showing a flow of call control whencalling out from a PTC terminal to a telephone terminal;

FIG. 13 is a sequential diagram showing a flow of call control when aPTC terminal receives an incoming call from a telephone terminal;

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a configuration of a system forimplementing a TV phone, according to a PTC system;

FIG. 15 is a sequential diagram showing a flow for establishingconnection for image communication from a PTC terminal to a TV phoneterminal;

FIG. 16 is a sequential diagram showing a flow for establishingconnection for image communication from a TV phone terminal to a PTCterminal;

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a configuration for a system forimplementing an image receiving function at a PTC terminal; and

FIG. 18 is a sequential diagram showing a flow for establishingconnection for image distribution between a PTC terminal and an imagedistribution server.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

For the purpose of preventing information leakage caused by loss ofconventional mobile PCs and the like, the present inventor firstconsidered a personal TC system as shown in FIG. 9. More specifically,the personal TC system is composed of: a TC terminal 960 freely usableby an individual, a desktop TC server 930, for example, that manages theapplication programs, data and the like of the TC terminal, and anetwork 990 that connects them; wherein the TC server 930 comprises anOS 933, an application program 937, a storage device 934 having an area936 for storing terminal IP addresses, a CPU 931, a memory 932, a remotecontroller SV935 and the like; and the TC terminal 960 comprises an OS972, an IC card control section 976, a device control section 973, a CPU974, a memory 975 having an area 981 for storing server IP addresses, aremote controller CL971 and the like, as well as an IC card 962 havingan area 982 for storing server IP addresses, and an input/output devicecomprising a keyboard 963, a display device 961 and the like.Transmitting and receiving input/output information between the TCserver and the TC terminal is performed by respectivelytransmitting/receiving IP packets between the remote controllers SV935and CL971. The IC card 962 is used as a personal identification deviceto prevent illegal connection. For example, allowing or disallowingconnection is controlled by storing in advance a personal identificationnumber and a password inside the IC card 962, and matching those with apersonal identification number and a password that are input uponconnecting to the PTC server.

The present invention is premised on the personal TC system shown inFIG. 9. A configuration and fundamental operations of the personal TCsystem will now be described. In the following description, PTC will beused as an abbreviation of “personal thin client”.

The PTC system is composed of a PTC server 930, a PTC terminal 960, anda network 990 that connects the two. The PTC server 930 is composed of aCPU 931, a memory 932, a storage device 934, an OS 933, an applicationprogram AP937, and a remote controller SV935. The PTC server 930 may bea desktop PC with an input/output device. The PTC terminal 960 iscomposed of a CPU 974, a memory 975, a device control section 973, an ICcard control section 976, an OS 972, a main body 970 consisting of aremote controller CL971, input devices in the form of a mouse 964 and akeyboard 963, a display device 961, and an IC card 962. According to thepresent configuration, because the PTC terminal 960 does not have anexternal storage device, it is incapable of executing what is calledapplication programs. However, since the PTC terminal 960 is unable tostore data such as personal information, there are no risks ofinformation leakage when lost or the like. The network 990 is, forexample, the Internet 991 or a wired LAN or a wireless LAN or the like,and is capable of identifying targets by their IP addresses.

The PTC system functions by establishing communication between the PTCserver 930 and the PTC terminal 960. This establishment of thecommunication is achieved upon establishment of communication betweenthe remote controllers, when the remote controller CL971 of the PTCterminal sends a communication start request to the remote controllerSV935 of the PTC server, which is in a connection wait state. An IPaddress of the PTC server preset in the server IP address storage area981 of the memory 975 is used as the target IP address for thetransmission of the communication start request. Also, when the IC cardis connected, the IP address preset in the server IP address storagearea 982 of the IC card 962 is used. This enables individuals to connectto their respective PTC servers without identifying PTC terminals. Whenthe communication start request initially arrives from the remotecontroller CL971, the IP address sent from the remote controller CL971is stored in the terminal IP address storage area 936 of the storagedevice 934. Subsequently, communication is performed towards the storedIP address. In addition, when terminating communication, the IP addressin the terminal IP address storage area 936 is erased.

When communication has already been established between the PTC serverand the PTC terminal, the PTC system operates as follows. Inputoperation through the mouse 964 or the keyboard 963 of the PTC terminal960 is transmitted as input information 950 from the remote controllerCL971 to the PTC server 930. The remote controller SV935 of the PTCserver 930 receives this information, and hands it over to the OS 933 asinput information addressed to the PTC server 930. The OS 933 executesprocessing according to the input information from the remote controllerSV935. Screen information and the like representing the results of theprocessing are transmitted as output information 951 from the remotecontroller SV935 to the PTC terminal 960. The remote controller CL971receives this information, and outputs it onto the display device 961via the OS 972.

The present configuration is characterized by configuring the TC server930 without an input/output device while configuring the TC terminal 960with only an input/output device, and remotely connecting the two. Byplacing the TC server 930 according to the present configuration in asecure area, possibility of information leakage can be virtuallyeliminated even in the event that the TC terminal 960 is lostexternally.

The present invention utilizes the characteristics of such personal TCsystems, and further enables audio, video and other communicationfunctions such as a telephone function, a TV phone function, and musicand image receiving functions.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a system for implementinga telephone function according to an embodiment of the presentinvention. The system configuration according to the present inventionis an addition of necessary functions to the PTC server 930 and the PTCterminal 960 shown in FIG. 9. In other words, although not shown, thePTC server 110 is configured identically to the PTC server 930 in FIG.9, except that a server side telephone control section 111 consisting ofa call control section 112 is added. Also, the PTC terminal 120 isconfigured identically to the PTC terminal 960 in FIG. 9, except that aterminal side telephone control section 121 consisting of a devicecontrol section 122 and a voice packet communication section 123 isadded. In addition, the PTC terminal 120 is configured to acceptconnection of a handset 130. Therefore, in the system configurationaccording to the present invention, the PTC system 100 is composed of aPTC server 110, a PTC terminal 120 and a network 990.

The server side telephone control section 111 performs call connectionvia a telephony server 800 and the call control section 112, andtransmits to and receives from the terminal side telephone controlsection 121 telephone control information to enable the PTC terminal 120to function as a telephone terminal.

The terminal side telephone control section 121 transmits to andreceives from the server side telephone control section 111 andtelephone control information 140, and provides control over the handset130 and the voice packet communication section 123.

The device control section 122 controls the various functions of thehandset 130, and is therefore implemented according to the type of thehandset 130.

The handset 130 is connected to the PTC terminal 120 via, for instance,a USB interface and the like. The fundamental functions of the handset130 include input/output of voice data, as well as key input, turninglamp on and off, off-hook, ringing tone generation and the like. Also,possible forms of the handset 130 include a fixed phone type, a headsettype and other types.

As described above, the telephony server 800 possesses functions as atelephone exchange device for connecting telephone terminals (the PTCterminal 120 and the telephone terminal 801). In order to perform thistelephone exchange function, the telephony server 800 internallycomprises a telephone number management table. The management table iscomposed of telephone numbers and call control target IP addresses, andby referencing this table, connection target terminals may be identifiedby their telephone numbers, thereby enabling processing of callconnections. In the PTC system 100 according to the present invention,while it is the PTC server 110 that performs call connection with thetelephony server 800, a single telephone number is assigned to the PTCsystem 100. To give a specific example, IP addresses “192.168.1.1”,“192.168.1.2”, “192.168.10.1” and “192.168.1.3” are respectivelyassigned to the PTC server 110, the PTC terminal 120, the telephonyserver 800 and the telephone terminal 801. In addition, as shown in FIG.11, the telephone numbers “3000” and “3001” are respectively assigned tothe PTC system 100 and the telephone terminal 801. Furthermore, thecontents of the telephone number management table of the telephonyserver 800 at this point are as shown in FIG. 10.

The following specific example will be described on the premise that atelephone system is configured with telephone numbers and IP addressesassigned as shown in FIG. 11. Also, the telephone terminal 801 will bedescribed as an IP phone capable of initiating and receiving callsthrough call connection with the telephony server 800, and is alsocapable of communicating with other telephone terminals bytransmitting/receiving voice packets.

Operation of implementing a telephone function according to the PTCterminal 120 according to the present embodiment of the presentinvention will now be described in detail using FIGS. 12 and 13. InFIGS. 12 and 13, it is assumed that the PTC server and the telephoneterminal are already registered with the IP telephony server, and thetelephone number management table shown in FIG. 11 has already beencreated. In addition, processing of transmitting/receiving informationat the PTC terminal 120 is performed by the terminal side telephonecontrol section 121, while processing of transmitting/receivinginformation at the PTC server 110 is performed by the server sidetelephone control section 111.

FIG. 12 is a sequential diagram showing the flow of call connection whencalling out from the PTC terminal 120 to the telephone terminal 801.

By dialing the phone number of a communication target telephone terminal(target telephone number) “3001” from a handset 130 mounted on the PTCterminal 120, input information 1201 requesting “callout to number 3001”is transmitted from the terminal side telephone control section 121 ofthe PTC terminal 120, via the remote controller CL971 as well as theremote controller SV935 of the PTC server 110, to the server sidetelephone control section 111.

Based on this request information, the PTC server 110 transmits callconnection request information 1202 that includes the target telephonenumber “3001” and a communication target IP address 1 “192.168.1.2” asparameters, to the telephony server 800. At this point, thecommunication target IP address 1 “192.168.1.2” is stored as a parameterinto a terminal IP address storage area 936 in a storage device 934.Based on the above call connection request information 1202, the IPtelephony server 800 references a telephone number management table 1001from the telephone number “3001” designated as a parameter, identifies acall connection target IP address “192.168.1.3”, and transmits callconnection request information 1203 to the telephone terminal 801. Atthis point, the IP telephony server 800 transmits the communicationtarget IP address “192.168.1.2” received from the PTC server 110 as aparameter. At the same time, information 1204 indicating a callingstatus is transmitted to the PTC server 110.

Upon receiving the information 1204 indicating a calling status, the PTCserver 110 transmits information 1205 indicating a calling status to thePTC terminal 120.

When the PTC terminal 120 receives the information 1205, the terminalside telephone control section 121 of the above described PTC terminalrings the handset 130 via the device control section 122 to change thestatus of the PTC terminal 120 to calling.

Upon receiving call connection request information 1203 from thetelephony server 800, the telephone terminal 801 rings a ringing tonethrough reception processing, and at the same time receives thecommunication target IP address “192.168.1.2” transmitted as aparameter. Then, after its status changes to communicatable by liftingthe receiver and the like, a communication OK 1206 is transmitted to thetelephony server 800.

Upon receiving the communication OK 1206, the telephony server 800transmits a communication OK 1207 to the PTC server with a communicationtarget IP address 2 as a parameter. The telephone terminal IP address“192.168.1.3” obtained from the telephone number management table 1001is set here as the communication target IP address 2.

The PTC server 110 receives the communication OK 1207, and transmits acommunication OK 1208 including the parameter to the PTC terminal 120.

As the PTC terminal 120 receives the communication OK 1208, the terminalside telephone control section 121 of the above described PTC terminalsends the communication target IP address in the parameter to the voicepacket communication section 123 of the above described PTC terminal.The voice packet communication section 123 designates the receivedcommunication target IP address “192.168.1.3” as the destination of thevoice packet to be transmitted, and commences packet transmission(communication 1209). At the same time, it starts receiving packets sentfrom the other party.

On the other hand, when the telephone terminal 801 side assumes acommunicatable status, it commences transmission of a voice packetaddressed to the communication target IP address “192.168.1.2” receivedfrom the telephony server 800, and at the same time starts receivingpackets sent from the other party.

This enables the PTC terminal 120 and the telephone terminal 801 tocommence direct communication 1209.

Furthermore, while the present description involved dialing out from thehandset of the PTC terminal, it is also possible to attach a dialing outfunction to the PTC server side. In this case, the step of informationnotification 1201 in the sequence shown in FIG. 12 is no longernecessary, and the sequence will start at 1202.

FIG. 13 is a sequential diagram showing the flow of an outgoing callfrom the telephone terminal 801 to the PTC terminal 120, or, in otherwords, the flow of a call connection upon receiving an incoming call atthe PTC terminal 120.

When the telephone terminal 801 dials a target telephone number “3000”,the telephone terminal 801 transmits a call connection requestinformation 1301 that has the connection target telephone number “3000”as a parameter to the telephony server 800. Upon receiving the callconnection request information 1301, the IP telephony server 800references the telephone number management table 1001 and identifies acall connection target IP address “192.168.1.1”, and transmits a callconnection request information 1302 with a communication target IPaddress 3 as a parameter to the PTC server 110, while transmittinginformation 1304 indicating a calling status to the telephone terminal801. The telephone terminal IP address “192.168.1.3”, obtained from thetelephone number management table 1001, is set as the communicationtarget IP address 3.

Upon receiving the call connection request information 1302, the PTCserver 110 transmits reception information 1303 including a parameter tothe PTC terminal 120.

Upon receiving the reception information 1303, the PTC terminal 120sounds the ringing tone of the handset 130 through the telephone controlsection 121 of the above described PTC terminal via the device controlsection 122, and notifies the communication target IP address“192.168.1.3” in the parameter to the voice packet communication section123.

Once PTC terminal 120 assumes a communicatable state through operationof the talk button on the handset 130 or the like, it transmits acommunication OK 1305 to the PTC server 110.

Upon receiving the communication OK 1305, the PTC server 110 sets the IPaddress “192.168.1.2” of the PTC terminal 120, stored in the terminal IPaddress storage area 936 in the storage device 934, as a parameter, andtransmits a communication OK 1306 to the telephony server 800.

Upon receiving the communication OK 1306, the telephony server 800transmits a communication OK 1307 including a parameter to the telephoneterminal 801.

Upon receiving the communication OK 1307, the telephone terminal 801acquires a communication target IP address 4 from the parameter, andcommences transmission of a voice packet by setting the IP address asthe destination for the voice packet transmission. At the same time, itstarts receiving packets from the other party.

On the other hand, when the terminal side telephone control section 121of the PTC terminal 120 becomes communicatable, the voice packetcommunication section 123 commences transmission of a voice packet bysetting the notified communication target IP address 3 “192.168.1.3” asthe destination of the voice packet to be transmitted. At the same time,it starts receiving packets from the other party.

This enables the PTC terminal 120 and the telephone terminal 801 tocommence direct communication 1308. Also, as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13,initiating and receiving calls as well as communication are now possiblebetween the telephone terminal 801 and the PTC terminal 120, therebyenabling use of the PTC terminal 120 as a single telephone terminal.

In addition, while the IP address exchange procedures betweencommunication terminals shown in FIGS. 12 and 13 are the same proceduresseen in Voice over IP call control technology (such as ITU-T H.323 orIETF SIP), as long as IP addresses can be exchanged between telephoneterminals, the present invention is not dependent on the use of eithercall control procedure.

This also applies to cases where a plurality of telephony servers 800are used, or alternate telephone exchange means is used.

According to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, when connecting the handset130, dialing input upon calling out or operations upon receivingincoming calls may be performed in the same way as with a conventionaltelephone.

Also, by implementing the server side telephone control section 111 asan application program, many telephone functions may be used. Since thePTC server 110 is equipped with a storage device, in addition toconfiguration of a telephone function, a phonebook function or anincoming/outgoing call history function may also be used.

In addition, as seen with the above described embodiment, by placing thePTC server 110 inside a secure area, leakage of personal informationsuch as a phonebook, which is a function of the server side call controlsection, can be prevented even when the PTC terminal 120 is lost.

The above embodiment described a configuration and method enabling thePTC terminal to be used as a telephone terminal.

A configuration and a method for implementing the PTC terminal to beused as a TV phone terminal will now be described.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a configuration of a system forimplementing a TV phone function according to an embodiment of thepresent invention. More specifically, the configuration is composed of:a PTC terminal 1420 comprising a voice communication section 1421, animage communication section 1422 and a packet transmitting/receivingsection 1423; a PTC server 1410 comprising a TV phone control section1411 with a call control section 1412; a TV phone server 1430 capable ofestablishing voice and image communication between a plurality of TVphone terminals; a TV phone terminal 1440 capable of voice and imagetransmission/reception in a designated format and comprising, forexample, a microphone 1446, a speaker 1443, a dial key 1444, a camera1441 and a display screen 1422, and an IP network 990 integrating all ofthe above.

According to the present system configuration, the PTC server 1410 andthe PTC terminal 1420 are respectively configured by adding necessaryfunctions to the PTC server 930 and the PTC terminal 960 shown in FIG.9. In other words, although not shown, the PTC terminal 1420 isconfigured identically to the PTC terminal 960 in FIG. 9, except that anaudio video packet communication section 1423 capable oftransmitting/receiving voice and image data as IP packets, an voicecommunication section 1421 enabling voice communication and controllinga handset 130, and an image communication section 1422 enabling imagecommunication and controlling a camera 813 are added. Also, although notshown, the PTC server 1410 is configured identically to the PTC server930 in FIG. 9, except that a TV phone controlling section 1411 includinga call control section 1412 and controlling the voice communicationsection 1421 and the image communication section 1422 in the PTCterminal via a remote controller is added as one of the applicationprograms 937.

As described above, the PTC server 1410 retains an IP address of the PTCterminal inside the storage device 934, as well as communicationattribute information such as voice codec information that can behandled by the voice communication section 1421, and image formatinformation that can be handled by the image communication section 1422.In this case, it is assumed that “MPEG2” and “MPEG4” are stored as imageformat information.

The TV phone terminal 1440 retains communication attribute informationsuch as voice codec information and image format information that it canhandle in a storage area 1445. In this case, it is assumed that “MPEG1”and “MPEG4” are stored as image format information.

In the present system configuration, “10.0.1.1”, “10.0.1.2”, “10.0.2.1”and “10.0.3.1” are respectively assigned to the PTC server 1410, the PTCterminal 1420, the TV phone server 1430 and the TV phone terminal 1440as IP addresses for communication.

Next, the flow of establishing connection between a PTC terminal and aTV conference terminal according to the present configuration will bedescribed in detail using the sequential diagrams of FIGS. 15 and 16.

Regarding FIGS. 15 and 16, description of the flow of connectionestablishment preceding voice communication 1501 has already beenprovided as steps 1201 to 1208 of FIG. 12, and steps 1301 to 1307 ofFIG. 13, and therefore will be omitted here.

FIG. 15 shows the sequence for establishing connection for imagecommunication 1511 from the PTC terminal 1420 to the TV phone terminal1440.

First, the PTC server 1410 transmits an image connection request to theTV phone server 1430 (step 1502).

The IP address of the PTC terminal 1420 and a top candidate of imageformat information that can be handled by the PTC terminal are set as aparameter A that is added to the transmission at this point. To bespecific, the IP address is “10.0.1.2” and the image format informationis “MPEG2”.

Upon receiving the transmission, the TV phone server 1430 transmits animage connection request together with the parameter A to the TV phoneterminal 1440 (step 1503).

Upon receiving the request, the TV phone terminal 1440 performs aparameter evaluation to determine whether image communication ispossible in the requested image format (step 1504).

In this case, since the requested image format information is “MPEG2”,the terminal determines that the request does not match its owncapabilities, and a negative result is obtained.

When the evaluation is negative, a negative result is transmitted to theTV phone server 1430 (step 1505).

The TV conference server 1430 receives the negative result, and in turntransmits a negative result to the PTC server 1410 (step 1506).

Upon receiving the negative result, the PTC server 1410 tracks down anext candidate from the image format information and sets it as theparameter A, and performs a retry process of retransmitting the imageconnection request 1502 (step 1507).

In this case, “MPEG4” is tracked down as the next candidate, and is setas the parameter A.

Again, after going through steps 1502 and 1503, a parameter evaluationis performed by the TV phone terminal 1440 (step 1504).

This time, since the requested image format is “MPEG4”, the terminaldetermines that the request matches its own capabilities, and a positiveresult is obtained.

When the evaluation is positive, a positive result is transmitted to theTV phone server 1430 (step 1508).

At this point, the terminal attaches a parameter B that is set to itsown IP address “10.0.3.1”.

Upon receiving the transmission, the TV phone server 1430 transmits apositive result attached with the parameter B to the PTC server 1410(step 1509).

Upon receiving the positive result, the PTC server 1410 transmits animage transmission/reception commencement instruction to the PTCterminal 1420 (step 1510).

The IP address of the communication target terminal, together with imageformat information, is set as a parameter C that is attached to thetransmission at this point. To be specific, the IP address is set to“10.0.3.1” and the image format information is set to “MPEG4”, which wasfinalized in the above step.

Upon receiving the transmission, the PTC terminal 1420 commencestransmission to and reception from the notified IP address “10.0.3.1” ofimage packets in the notified image format “MPEG4”.

On the other hand, after performing step 1508, the TV phone terminal1440 commences transmission to and reception from the IP address“10.0.1.2” obtained with the parameter A of image packets in “MPEG4”,which is the image format finalized in the above step.

This enables the PTC terminal 1420 and the TV conference terminal 1440to establish image communication 1511, and configures imagecommunication 1453 via the above described network 990.

FIG. 16 shows the sequence for establishing connection for imagecommunication 1511 from the TV phone terminal 1440 to the PTC terminal1420.

First, the TV phone server 1440 transmits an image connection request tothe TV phone server 1430 (step 1602).

The IP address of the TV phone terminal 1440 and a top candidate ofimage format that can be handled by the TV phone terminal 1440 are setas a parameter D that is attached to the transmission at this point. Tobe specific, the IP address is “10.0.3.1” and the image format is“MPEG1”.

Upon receiving the transmission, the TV phone server 1430 transmits animage connection request together with the parameter D to the PTC server1410 (step 1603).

Upon receiving the request, the PTC server 1410 performs a parameterevaluation to determine whether image communication is possible in therequested image format (step 1604).

In this case, since the requested image format is “MPEG1”, the terminaldetermines that the request does not match its own capabilities, and anegative result is obtained.

When the evaluation is negative, a negative result is transmitted to theTV phone server 1430 (step 1605).

The TV conference server 1430 receives the negative result, and in turntransmits a negative result to the TV phone terminal 1440 (step 1606).

Upon receiving the negative result, the TV phone terminal 1440 tracksdown a next candidate from the image format information and sets it asthe parameter D, and performs a retry process of retransmitting theimage connection request 1602 (step 1607).

In this case, “MPEG4” is tracked down as the next candidate, and is setas the parameter D.

Again, after going through steps 1602 and 1603, a parameter evaluationis performed by the PTC server 1410 (step 1604).

This time, since the requested image format is “MPEG4”, the terminaldetermines that the request matches its own capabilities, and a positiveresult is obtained.

When the evaluation is positive, the PTC server 1410 transmits apositive result to the TV phone server 1430 (step 1608), and transmits atransmission/reception commencement instruction to the PTC terminal 1420(step 1610).

In step 1608, a parameter E set to the IP address “10.0.1.2” of the PTCterminal is attached.

In step 1610, the IP address of the communication target terminal, andimage format, are set as a parameter F that is attached to thetransmission at this point. To be specific, the IP address is set to“10.0.3.1”, which was obtained from the parameter D, and the imageformat is set to “MPEG4”, which was finalized in the above step.

Upon receiving the positive result of step 1608, the TV phone server1430 transmits a positive result attached with the parameter E to the TVphone terminal 1440 (step 1609).

Upon receiving the positive result, the TV phone terminal 1440 commencestransmission to and reception from the IP address “10.0.1.2” obtainedwith the parameter E, of image packets in “MPEG4”, which is the imageformat finalized in the above step.

On the other hand, after receiving step 1610, the PTC terminal 1420references the parameter F, and commences transmission to and receptionfrom the notified IP address “10.0.3.1” of image packets in the notifiedimage format “MPEG4”.

Image communication 1511 is hereby established between the PTC terminal1420 and the TV conference terminal 1440, and enables configuration ofan image communication 1453 via the above described network 990.

Since voice and image communications are established independently, thepresent embodiment allows separating terminals used for voicecommunication from those used for image communication, and also enablesestablishment of voice-only or image-only communication and the like.

In addition, voice and image connections between a plurality of PTCterminals may be achieved, and TV conferences may be easily realizedthrough the present configuration.

Furthermore, by respectively providing the PTC server and the TVconference terminal with the communication establishing means of the TVphone server, connection may be achieved without going through the TVphone server.

The present embodiment is characterized in that the PTC server isprovided with the image format capability of the PTC terminal, andexchanges this image format capability with that of the TV phoneterminal, and that both decide a mutually communicatable image format.

In addition, while a capability exchange of image formats was describedin the present embodiment, the present invention is not limited to thecapability exchange of image formats, and may be utilized as a methodfor absorbing the differences between the capabilities of communicationterminals such as in the exchange of codec in voice data or characterfonts in texts.

The above embodiment described a configuration and method enabling thePTC terminal to be used as a TV phone terminal.

Next, a configuration and a method for implementing the use of the PTCterminal as a terminal that functions by connecting to a contentdistribution server of, for example, music or films will be described.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a configuration of a system forimplementing an image receiving function according to an embodiment ofthe present invention. More specifically, the configuration is composedof: a PTC terminal 1720 for playing received image contents; a PTCserver 1710 that controls the PTC terminal 1720 with control informationA 1750 and comprises an image distribution control section 1712 and animage reception control section 1711; an image distribution server 1740comprising a storage device 1742 for storing image contents, and aprogram 1741 for distributing image contents to designated terminalsbased on control information B 1752; an image distribution managementserver 1730 that controls the image distribution server 1740 andcomprises a program 1731 for performing image distribution control; anda network 990 connecting all of the above.

According to the present system configuration, the PTC server 1710 andthe PTC terminal 1720 are configured by respectively adding necessaryfunctions to the PTC server 930 and the PTC terminal 960 shown in FIG.9. In other words, although not shown, the PTC terminal is configuredidentically to the PTC terminal 960 in FIG. 9, except that an audiovideo packet communication section 1722 that extracts voice data andimage data from audio video data received as IP packets, an audio videoprocessing section 1721 that respectively outputs voice data to aspeaker and image data to a screen display by synchronizing the voicedata with the image data according to an conversion method designated bycontrol information A 1750, and a speaker 1729 to be externallyconnected. Also, although not shown, the PTC server 1710 is configuredidentically to the PTC server 930 in FIG. 9, except that an imagereception control section 1711 that includes an image distributioncontrol section 1712 is added as one of the application programs 937.

The PTC server 1710 retains image format information and the like thatcan be handled by the audio video processing section 1721 of the PTCterminal 1720 inside the storage device 934.

The image distribution management server 1732 retains image formatinformation and the like that can be distributed by the imagedistribution server 1740 in a storage area 1732.

In the present system configuration, in order to realize imagecommunication, “10.0.1.1”, “10.0.1.2”, “10.0.2.1” and “10.0.3.1” arerespectively assigned to the PTC server 1710, the PTC terminal 1720, theimage distribution management server 1730 and the image distributionserver 1740 as IP addresses.

The flow of establishing image distribution connection between the PTCterminal 1720 and the image distribution server 1740 according to thepresent configuration will now be described in detail using thesequential diagram of FIG. 18.

First, the PTC server 1710 transmits an image distribution requestattached with a parameter G to the image distribution management server1730 (step 1801).

The parameter G is for setting information necessary for imagedistribution, and designates, for example, which image content isdistributed to which terminal using which image format. In this case,the image content is set to “Film 1”, the image format to “MPEG4”, andthe distribution target IP address to “10.0.1.2”.

Upon receiving the request, the image distribution management server1730 confirms the designation contents of the parameter G (step 1802).

If the confirmation does not reveal any problems, a positive resultattached with a parameter H is transmitted to the PTC server 1710 (step1803), while a distribution commencement instruction attached with theparameter G is transmitted to the image distribution server 1740 (step1804).

Finalized information on image distribution is set in the parameter H ofstep 1803. In this case, the IP address of the image distribution serveris set to “10.0.3.1”, and the image format information is set to“MPEG4”, and so on.

Upon receiving the positive result of step 1803, the PTC server 1710attaches the received parameter H to a reception commencementinstruction, and sends the instruction to the PTC terminal 1720 (step1805).

On the other hand, after receiving the distribution commencementinstruction of step 1804, the image distribution server 1740 commencesimage distribution of the designated image content “Film 1” to thedesignated IP address “10.0.1.2” in the designated image format “MPEG4”,according to contents designated by the parameter G (step 1806).

After receiving the reception commencement instruction of step 1805, thePTC terminal 1720 commences reception of the image packets forwardedfrom the designated IP address “10.0.3.1”, and plays the received imagedata in the designated image format “MPEG4”, according to contentsdesignated by the parameter H (step 1807).

Image distribution 1808 is hereby established between the imagedistribution server 1740 and the PTC terminal 1720, allowing the PTCterminal 1720 to play image contents.

The image distribution management server 1730 may be housed togetherwith the image distribution server 1740.

Also, if differences in image format arise between the distributionserver and the terminal, such differences may be solved by applying thecapability resolution method of FIG. 15 (steps 1502 to 1507) to steps1801 to 1803.

In addition, while an implementation of connection to an image contentdistribution server has been described in the present embodiment, thePTC terminal can be connected to content distribution servers thatdistribute, for example, music contents or text contents such as news,by using the exact same method. The present embodiment is characterizedin that the information retained by the PTC server on image formats thatcan be handled by the PTC terminal is exchanged with the informationretained by the image distribution management server on image formats ofthe image distribution server, thereby enabling the PTC terminal toreceive image data from the image distribution server.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a block configuration of the PTC terminal200 equipped with a microphone 231 and a speaker 232, according to anembodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, the PTCterminal 120 of FIG. 1 is configured so as to allow connection of themicrophone 231 and the speaker 232, instead of the handset 130. In FIG.2, the PTC terminal 200 comprises an analog digital conversion section220 (hereinafter referred to as AD conversion section), and isconfigured to accept connection of the microphone 231 and the speaker232 to the AD conversion section. A terminal side telephone controlsection 210 is equipped with a ringing tone control section 211. The ADconversion section 220 and the ringing tone control section 211 are notrestricted to any particular form of implementation, and may behardware, firmware or software.

The method of implementing communication function according to theconfiguration of FIG. 2 is as follows. In the communication 1209 stateof FIG. 12, analog data 241 input to and/or output from the microphone231 and the speaker 232 is passed through the AD conversion section 220and converted into digital data 242, which is then input to and/oroutput from a voice packet communication section 123 to achievecommunication with a target.

The method of implementing a calling tone and a ringing tone accordingto the configuration of FIG. 2 is as follows. In the case of a callingtone, in FIG. 12, as the PTC terminal 200 receives information 1205indicating a calling state, the terminal side telephone control section210 notifies the ringing tone control section 211 to generate tone. Uponreceiving the notification, the ringing tone control section 211transmits calling tone data 212 to the AD conversion section 220, and acalling tone is produced from the speaker 232. Also, in the case of aringing tone, in FIG. 13, as the PTC terminal 200 receives an incomingcall 1303, the terminal side telephone control section 210 notifies theringing tone control section 211 of the incoming call. Upon receivingthe notification, the ringing tone control section 211 transmits ringingtone data 213 to the AD conversion section, and a ringing tone isproduced from the speaker 232.

The method of implementing dialing and other telephone operationsaccording to the configuration of FIG. 2 is as follows. The server sidetelephone control section 111 of FIG. 1 has an interface that allowson-screen input/output. When the PTC server 110 is activated, a displaydevice 961 of the PTC terminal 200 displays an input/output screen 601shown in FIG. 6. For outgoing calls, calling out is possible throughdial input by operating a mouse 964 or a keyboard 963. Also, forincoming calls, communication can be initiated by designating anon-screen off-hook button or the like.

According to the configuration of FIG. 2, since even the microphone 231and the speaker 232 may employ telephone functions, the use of, forinstance, a headset that integrates the microphone 231 and the speaker232 may also be considered.

FIG. 4 is diagram showing a configuration of a PTC system 400 comprisinga PTC server side equipped with a voice packet communication section123.

In the configuration of FIG. 4, use of the PTC terminal 420 as a singletelephone terminal may be realized by designating the IP address of thePTC server 410 as the communication target IP address designated in thecall connection processing shown in FIG. 12 or 13. More specifically, inFIG. 12, when making a call connection request to the telephony server800, the IP address “192.168.1.1” of the PTC server 410 is set as thecommunication target IP address parameter. In addition, in FIG. 13, whensending a communication OK to the telephony server 800, the IP address“192.168.1.1” of the PTC server 410 is set as the communication targetIP address parameter. This enables voice packet communication betweenthe telephone terminal 801 and the PTC server 410.

After converting the voice packet data to voice data, the voice packetcommunication section 123 transmits to and/or receives from the terminalside telephone control section 421 the voice data. The terminal sidetelephone control section 421 performs voice input and/or output to thehandset 130 via the device control section 122.

According to the configuration of FIG. 4, since voice data 441 passesthrough the PTC server 410, recording of communication may be easilyrealized by using voice recording programs or the like that run on thePTC server 410.

Incidentally, the voice packet communication section 123 may be equippedto the PTC terminal 120 side, as shown in FIG. 1, or equipped to the PTCserver 410 side, as shown in FIG. 4, or equipped to both the PTC server410 and the PTC terminal 420 to be switched from one to the otheraccording to purpose of use.

FIG. 5 is diagram showing a block configuration of a PTC terminal 500with the call control section 112 shown in FIG. 1 equipped to the PTCterminal 500 side.

In the configuration of FIG. 5, since the PTC terminal 500single-handedly comprises a telephone function, the PTC terminal 500 maybe used as a single telephone terminal totally independent of theoperation of the PTC server 110.

In the configuration of FIG. 5, when constructing a telephone systemusing the PTC terminal 500 as a single telephone terminal, “192.168.1.2”is set in the telephone number management table 1001 in the telephonyserver 800 as the call control target IP address corresponding to“3000”. This enables call connection between the telephony server 800and the PTC terminal 500.

When the call control target IP address is the same as the communicationtarget IP address, as in the configuration of FIG. 5, either the callconnection target IP address may be set as the communication target IPaddress, or the parameter may be left unset in the call connectionprocedures of FIGS. 12 and 13. If no parameter is set for thecommunication target IP address, the telephony server 800 references thetelephone number management table 1001, and by notifying the other partyof the call connection target IP address as the communication target IPaddress, the IP addresses of both parties may be exchanged.

According to the configuration of FIG. 5, since telephone functions maybe used through the PTC terminal 500 alone and totally independent ofthe operation of the PTC server 110, calls can be made, for example,even when the PTC server 110 is not turned on.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a block configuration of a PTC terminal 320,configured to allow connection of an IC card 330 and equipped with an ICcard control section 321 that reads information from the IC card 330,and a configuration of a PTC system 300 using the PTC terminal 320 and amethod for implementing telephone functions.

Telephone numbers are registered in advance in a telephone numberstorage area 331 of the IC card 330. When the IC card 330 is inserted,the terminal side telephone control section 341 reads a telephone numberstored in the telephone number storage area 331 of the IC card 330 viathe IC card control section 321, and transmits a telephone numberregistration notification with the new telephone number as a parameterto the server side telephone control section 111

Upon receiving this notification, the server side telephone controlsection 111 sends a registration request 340 for the new telephonenumber to the telephony server 800 via the call control section 112.

Upon receiving the registration request 340, the telephony server 800rewrites the telephone number corresponding to the IP address in thetelephone number management table to the new telephone number.

This renews the telephone number of the PTC system 300, and othertelephone terminals can connect to the PTC system 300 by using the newtelephone number.

In addition, other configurations wherein the IC card 330 is connectedmay be considered, such as a configuration wherein the IC card 330 isconnected to the PC server 110 of FIG. 3, or a configuration wherein theIC card 330 is connected to the PTC terminal 500 shown in FIG. 5. Ineither configuration, the processing for telephone number registrationand the like will be the same as above.

As described above, an advantage of the configuration of FIG. 3 is thatthe IP address of the connection target PTC server may be registeredinto the IC card 330. By arranging the IC card 330 to carry callerinformation as well, simply inserting the IC card will connect the PTCterminal 320 to a private desktop PC, and will further allow the PTCterminal 320 to be used as a telephone terminal with a personalextension number. Thus, a secure remote office environment may beachieved.

In addition, when using the PTC terminal 120 as a mobile device, byconfiguring, for example, a telephone program that is a function of theserver side telephone control section 111 to link with a personalcellular phone, the PTC terminal 120 can be carried around together withthe cellular phone.

In a corporate information system, when a TC system and an IP internalphone network are to be concurrently constructed, the present inventioncan provide an environment that allows mobile operations at a user'shome or a business trip destination to be performed in a more secure andcomfortable manner.

It should be further understood by those skilled in the art thatalthough the foregoing description has been made on embodiments of theinvention, the invention is not limited thereto and various changes andmodifications may be made without departing from the spirit of theinvention and the scope of the appended claims.

1. A network communication system comprising: a server for managing dataand a data forming program which forms the data; an input/outputterminal including an information input section for inputtinginformation used to form said data based upon said data forming programof said server, and a remote control section for performing a remotecontrol between the server and the remote control section, saidinput/output terminal transmitting said input information to said serverthrough said remote control section, and receiving the data formed onthe side of said server; and a network for coupling said server to saidinput/output terminal; in which transmission/reception of said inputinformation and said formed data are performed by the remote operationbetween said server and said input/output terminal; wherein: an audiopacket communication section for communicating any one, or both, ofaudio information and video information with respect to a communicationterminal connected to said network, and a dialing section for inputtingcall control information which establishes a call connection withrespect to said communication terminal are provided on the side of saidinput/output terminal; call control means for controlling a call betweensaid input/output terminal and said communication terminal in responseto said call control information so as to set the call is provided onthe side of said server; when a call is issued from one of saidinput/output terminal and said communication terminal, said call controlmeans provided on the side of said server establishes the callconnection between said input/output terminal and said communicationterminal; and when the call connection between said input/outputterminal and said communication terminal is established based upon thecall control means on the side of said server, a communication of anyone, or both said audio and video information can be performed via saidnetwork between said input/output terminal and said communicationterminal.
 2. A network communication system comprising: a thin clientserver for managing data and a data forming program which forms thedata; a thin client terminal which is remotely operated with respect tosaid thin client server, which transmits input information for formingthe data based upon said data forming program of said thin client serverto said thin client server, and which receives said data formed on theside of said thin client server; a network communication terminalcapable of performing a network communication of audio, or videoinformation; and a network for coupling said thin client server, saidthin client terminal, and said network communication terminal with eachother; in which a telephone communication, or a video informationcommunication can be carried out between said thin client terminal andsaid network communication terminal; wherein: information communicationmeans for communicating the audio information, or the video informationvia said network to said network communication terminal is provided onthe side of said thin client terminal; call control means forcall-connecting between said thin client terminal and said networkcommunication terminal is provided on the side of said thin clientserver; in a case that a call is issued from said thin client terminal,or said network communication terminal, a call connection between saidthin client terminal and said network communication terminal isestablished by said call control means of said thin client server andsaid network; the audio information, or the video information of saidthin client terminal is transmitted via said network to said networkcommunication terminal by said thin client terminal, or said informationcommunication means of said network communication terminal; and the callconnection between said client terminal and said network communicationterminal, and the transmission of the audio, or video information areperformed through different paths.
 3. A network communication systemaccording to claim 2 wherein: each of said thin client server and saidthin client terminal is comprised of a remote control section whichremotely controls said thin client server and said thin client terminal,and which transmits/receives data forming-purpose input information,call control information, telephone control information and data, callcontrol information, and telephone control information; said thin clientserver and said thin client terminal include telephone control sectionswhich construct call control paths among said thin client terminal, saidthin client server, and said IP communication terminal based upon thetelephone control information transmitted/received from said thin clientterminal and said communication terminal via said thin client server;said telephone control section of said thin client server includes acall control section of said call control means; said telephone controlsection of said thin client terminal includes a device control sectionand a packet communication section; said device control section controlsa function of an appliance of either audio or video information which isinputted/outputted in/from said input/output interface section of theaudio, or video information; and said packet communication sectionpackets said audio, or video information and transmits the audio packet,or the video packet via said network to said network communicationterminal; and wherein: said network communication terminal is an IPtelephone, or an IP television telephone.
 4. A network communicationsystem according to claim 2 wherein: said call control means includeseither a telephony server or a TV telephone server, which constructs acall control path between said thin client server and said communicationterminal based upon the call control of said call control section.
 5. Acommunication control method in which a communication system arranged bya server, an input/output terminal for remotely operating said server,and a network for coupling said server with said input/output terminalis capable of performing an audio communication, or a videocommunication between said input/output terminal and a communicationterminal connected to said network, comprising: a step in which whensaid input/output terminal calls said communication terminal, saidserver transmits a network address of said input/output terminal to saidcommunication terminal; a step in which when said communication terminalresponds to said call operation, said server transmits a network addressof said communication terminal to said input/output terminal; and a stepfor constructing a communication path capable of performing an audiocommunication, or a video communication between said input/outputterminal and said communication terminal when said input/output terminaland said communication terminal acquire said network addresses thereofrespectively; wherein: a call connection between said input/outputterminal and said communication terminal is established by executingsaid steps for transmitting the network addresses; and the audiocommunication, or the video communication between said input/outputterminal and said communication terminal can be performed by executingthe step for constructing the audio communication path, or the videocommunication path.
 6. In a communication method in which acommunication system is equipped with: an input/output terminalincluding a remote control section for transmitting/receivingcommunication control information; a server including a remote controlsection for transmitting/receiving communication control information;and a network for connecting said server to said input/output terminal;and, an audio communication, or a video communication can be performedbetween said input/output terminal and a communication terminal of saidnetwork; said communication control method comprises: a step in whichwhen either said input/output terminal or said network communicationterminal calls either said communication terminal of said network orsaid input/output terminal, said server transmits either a networkaddress of said input/output terminal or a network address of saidnetwork communication terminal to either said network communicationterminal or said input/output terminal; a step in which when either saidnetwork communication terminal or said input/output terminal responds tosaid call operation, said server transmits either the network address ofsaid network communication terminal or said network address of saidinput/output terminal to either said input/output terminal or saidnetwork communication terminal; and a step in which when saidinput/output terminal and said network communication terminal acquiresaid network addresses respectively, a communication path capable ofperforming either the audio communication or the video communication isconstructed between said input/output terminal and said networkcommunication terminal; wherein: a call connection between saidinput/output terminal and said network communication terminal isestablished by executing said steps for transmitting the networkaddresses; and the audio communication, or the video communicationbetween said input/output terminal and said network communicationterminal can be performed by executing the step for constructing theaudio communication path, or the video communication path.
 7. In acommunication method in which a communication system is equipped with: athin client terminal including a remote control section fortransmitting/receiving communication control information; a thin clientserver including a remote control section for transmitting/receivingcommunication control information; a network communication terminal; anda network for connecting said thin client server to said respectiveterminals; and, an audio communication, or a video communication can beperformed between said thin client terminal and said networkcommunication terminal; said communication control method comprises: astep in which when either said thin client terminal or said networkcommunication terminal calls either said network communication terminalor said thin client terminal, said thin client server transmits either anetwork address of said thin client terminal or a network address ofsaid network communication terminal to either said network communicationterminal or said thin client terminal; a step in which when either saidnetwork communication terminal or said thin client terminal responds tosaid call operation, said thin client server transmits either thenetwork address of said network communication or the network address ofsaid thin client terminal to either said thin client terminal or saidnetwork communication terminal; and a step in which when said thinclient terminal and said network communication terminal acquire saidnetwork addresses respectively, a communication path capable ofperforming either the audio communication or the video communication isconstructed between said input/output terminal and said networkcommunication terminal; wherein: a call connection between saidinput/output terminal and said network communication terminal isestablished by executing said steps for transmitting the networkaddresses; and the audio communication, or the video communicationbetween said thin client terminal and said network communicationterminal can be performed by executing the step for constructing theaudio communication path, or the video communication path.
 8. Acommunication control method capable of performing an audiocommunication, or a video communication between an IP communicationterminal and a thin client terminal including a remote control sectionwhich transmits/receives communication control information between athin client server and said thin client terminal, comprising: a step inwhich when said thin client terminal calls said IP communicationterminal, said thin client server transmits an IP address of said thinclient terminal to said IP communication terminal; a step in which whensaid IP communication terminal responds to said call operation, saidthin client server transmits an IP address of said IP communicationterminal to said thin client terminal; and a step in which when saidthin client terminal and said IP communication terminal acquire said IPaddresses respectively, a communication path including said IP networkcapable of performing the audio communication, or the videocommunication is constructed between said thin client terminal and saidIP communication terminal; wherein: a call connection between said thinclient terminal and said IP communication terminal is established byexecuting said steps for transmitting said IP addresses; and either theaudio communication or the video communication between said thin clientterminal and said IP communication terminal can be performed byexecuting said step for constructing said communication path of eitherthe audio communication or the video communication.
 9. A communicationcontrol method in which audio information, or video information can betransmitted/received between an input/output device and a connectiontarget communication device by a device including call control means forconnecting/disconnecting a telephone communication between saidinput/output device provided on a network and said connection targetcommunication device; wherein: said device including said call controlmeans is comprised of: a step in which when input information of saidinput/output device is received, a second address of said input/devicedevice is transmitted to said connection target communication device; astep in which when said connection target communication device receivessaid second address and a telephone communication is allowable, a thirdaddress of said connection target communication device is transmitted tosaid input/output device; and a step in which when said input/outputdevice and said connection target communication device acquire saidsecond address and said third address, a communication path capable ofperforming the telephone communication of the audio information, or thevideo information communication is constructed by said network betweensaid input/output device and said connection target communicationdevice; and wherein: a call connection between said input/output deviceand said connection target communication device is established bytransmitting said second address and said third address by the deviceincluding said call control means; and said telephone communication ofthe audio information, or said video information communication betweensaid input/output device and said connection target communication devicecan be performed by constructing either said audio informationcommunication path or said video information communication path by saidnetwork.
 10. An input/output terminal for remotely operating a server,in which a call connection between the input/output terminal and eitheran audio communication terminal or a video communication terminal to beconnected to a network is established by call control means arranged insaid server; wherein: said input/output terminal comprises: a remotecontrol section for remotely transmitting either key input informationor mouse input information used to form data on the side of said server,and for remotely receiving the data formed on the side of said server; acommunication section for communicating either audio information orvideo information via said network to either said audio communicationterminal or said video communication terminal; and a call control inputsection for remotely transmitting call control information via saidremote control section to said server, and for inputting thereintocontrol information which is capable of establishing a call connectionbetween said audio communication terminal and said video communicationterminal; and wherein: when the call connection between saidinput/output terminal and said network communication terminal isestablished by call control means of said server, either the audioinformation or the video information of said input/output terminal istransmitted via said network to said communication terminal, so that acommunication between said communication terminal and the input/outputterminal can be performed.
 11. An input/output terminal according toclaim 10 wherein: said call control information input section is adialing section.
 12. An input/output terminal which is call-connected toa network communication terminal by employing call control means and anetwork, said call control means being provided in a server for managingdata and a data forming program for forming the data; wherein: saidinput/output terminal comprises: an information input section forinputting thereinto information used to form said data base upon saiddata forming program of said server; an information output section forreceiving output information made of the data formed in said server andfor outputting the received output information on a display section; anaudio packet communication section for communicating either audioinformation or video information; a dialing section for inputting callcontrol information; and a remote control section for performing aremote control between a remote control section of the server and theremote control section; and wherein: said remote control sectiontransmits said input information and said call control information viasaid network to said server, and receives the data formed by saidserver; and when a call connection between said input/output terminaland said network communication terminal is established by the callcontrol means of said server, said input/output terminal transmitseither the audio information or the video information thereof to saidcommunication terminal via said network without a path through saidserver.
 13. A thin client terminal in which a call connection isestablished with a network communication terminal via a network and athin client server which manages data and a data forming program forforming said data; wherein: said thin client terminal is comprised of: aremote control section for remotely controlling said thin client server,for transmitting input information to said server, which is used to formdata based upon said data forming program of said server, and fortransmitting/receiving call control information with respect to saidnetwork communication terminal between said server and the remotecontrol section; an audio, or video input section; and datacommunication means for processing either the audio information or thevideo information of said audio, or video input section, and fortransmitting the processed data via said network to said networkcommunication terminal; and wherein: when the call connection isestablished by the call control means of said thin client server, eitheraudio data or video data of said thin client terminal is transmitted tosaid network communication terminal, so that a communication can beperformed between said network communication terminal and said thinclient terminal.
 14. A thin client terminal according to claim 13wherein: said input information is either key input information or mouseinput information; and wherein: said thin client terminal comprises: aninterface section to which a handset is connected; a device controlsection for controlling a function of the handset to be connected tosaid interface section; and a packet communication section for packetingaudio information entered from said handset so as to transmit the audiopacket via said network to the network communication terminal.
 15. Athin client terminal according to claim 13 wherein: said thin clientterminal comprises: an interface section to which a keyboard isconnected; a device control section for controlling a function of thekeyboard which is connected to said interface section; another interfacesection to which a microphone and a speaker are connected; a packetcommunication section for packeting an audio inputted from saidmicrophone and for transmitting the audio packet via said network tosaid network communication terminal; and further, an A/D convertingsection for A/D-converting data between said packet communicationsection and said interface units.
 16. A thin client terminal which iscall-set with an IP communication terminal via an IP network,comprising: a remote control section for remotely controlling a thinclient server which manages data formed based upon either key inputinformation or mouse input information entered from said thin clientterminal, and also manages a data forming program of said data, and fortransmitting either said key input information or said mouse inputinformation, and call control information to said server; call controlmeans for controlling a call between said thin client terminal and saidIP communication terminal via a telephony server to be connected to saidIP network; and data communication means for processing either audioinformation or video signal from an audio, or video input section, andfor transmitting the processed data via said IP network to said IPcommunication terminal; wherein: when a call connection is establishedby said call control means and said telephony server, either the audiodata or the video data of said thin client terminal is transmitted viasaid IP network to said IP communication terminal, so that a telephonecommunication can be performed between said thin client terminal andsaid IP communication terminal.
 17. An input/output device whichremotely controls a device including call control means for performing acall control between the input/output device and a connection targetcommunication device on a network via said network, comprising: an inputsection for inputting input information to said input/output device; aninput section for inputting either audio information or videoinformation; a remote control section for transmitting the inputinformation of said input section to said device including said callcontrol means via the network, and for receiving information transmittedfrom the device including said call control means; and a communicationsection including a transmission/reception section for transmittingeither audio information or video information of said input section viasaid network to said connection target communication device, and forreceiving either the audio information or the video information fromsaid connection target communication device; wherein: when the deviceincluding said call control means is remotely controlled by saidinput/output device, and said device call-connects said input/outputdevice to said connection target communication device, the communicationsection of said input/output terminal transmits either the audioinformation or the video information to said connection targetcommunication device via said network without a path through said deviceincluding the call control means.
 18. An input/output device accordingto claim 17 wherein: the input information of said input section isinput via either a key or a mouse; said audio, or video informationinput section is either a microphone or a handset; and the informationcontrol section of said control means is an audio, or video packetcommunication section.
 19. A thin client server which is connected to anIP network in combination with a thin client terminal and an IPcommunication terminal, and manages both data and a data forming programfor forming the data; comprising: call connection means for performing acall connection between said thin client terminal and said IPcommunication terminal; and remote control means for transmitting an IPaddress of said IP telephone terminal to said thin client terminal whena call connection between said thin client terminal and said IPcommunication terminal is established by said call control means inresponse to a call issued from either said thin client terminal or saidIP communication terminal; wherein: a transmission path constructed ofsaid IP network between said thin client terminal and said IPcommunication terminal is established by transmitting/receiving said IPaddress; and a communication between said client terminal and saidcommunication terminal can be performed via said communication pathconstructed of said network which connects said client terminal to saidcommunication terminal.